Healing Properties

on October 28, 2009
in All Posts

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One of the key aspects of Back On Track Month is getting 8 hours of sleep so I can wake up early and do meditation and yoga.  I fell out of the habit a few weeks ago, and I miss it so much!

 

This morning, I turned on the hippie music station (AKA “Soundscapes” on Music TV) and unrolled my yoga mat. In case you want to know what hippie music sounds like, here’s the first song I was listening to….

Doesn’t that just make you want to downward dog?

 

Speaking of dogs…  I spent most of my meditation like this:

IMG_4169 

(That’s my No Meat Athlete t-shirt! So cute.)

 

However, I did manage to get in a few minutes of visualization and deep breathing.  I also did four Sun Salutations and the Tree pose.  I think Tree is the most difficult pose I’ve tried, and people who can do it well are extremely badass.  🙂

 

I rounded everything out with some sit-ups and push-ups. 

 

And then it was time for breakfast!

IMG_4170

My banana oatmeal contained:

 

  • 1/2 cup oatmeal
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 sliced banana
  • Toppings: flax, coconut, almonds, goji berries

IMG_4172

The Husband is really into Goji Berries now.  He eats them by the handful.  Goji berries are rich in antioxidants and help support the immune system.  The Husband (as you may know) is in his final semester of becoming a Doctor of Chinese Medicine and tries to practice what he preaches.

 

Other fun foods the Husband eats because of their healing properties:  raw garlic (by the spoonful!) and ginger (he slices raw ginger and steeps it to make tea).

 

The Goji Berries taste good, too!  He got a big pack at Whole Foods.

IMG_4174

Plus, a cute new silver spoon my Mom gave me:

IMG_4176

Off to work I go!

 

Do you think of food in terms of its healing properties?  I’m trying to eat more foods that are extra-good for me.  I learned a lot about antioxidants at the POM Wonderful tour, and if antioxidant-rich foods do HALF of the things science thinks they do, I’m down!  You can read some of the research here.

{ 60 comments }

 

  • Leah @ Simply fabulous October 28, 2009, 8:39 am

    I love that you’ve taken up doing yoga and meditation in the morning. I think its a great start to the day. In fact its a great way to end your day in the evening too! I’m planning on trying to get in 10 minutes everyday for the month of November. I mentioned it on the blog here… a little challenge if you will!
    http://simplyfabulousnow.wordpress.com/2009/10/23/30-day-yoga-challenge-are-you-in/

    People who join can make it as easy or difficult as they want. That’s the great thing about yoga in my opinion!

  • Jessica @ How Sweet It Is October 28, 2009, 8:39 am

    Do you kiss him after he eats raw garlic? And yes, I think chocolate heals all things.

    • caitlin October 28, 2009, 8:41 am

      hehe of course. he makes me eat spoonfuls of it, too. so we both reek of garlic.

      • 'laina October 28, 2009, 8:22 pm

        Is roasted garlic as effective as raw garlic? I can’t stand how raw burns, but I could eat a fistful of roasted garlic. lol

        Do you guys get the pre-minced in a jar garlic, or buy and cut your own cloves?

        • Caitlin October 28, 2009, 9:35 pm

          its different and not as strong compared to raw garlic, but the roasted/baked garlic was a tonifying effect regardless… according to the husband.

          we get pre-minced.

  • Estela @ Weekly Bite October 28, 2009, 8:41 am

    I never really think of food and it’s healing properties…

    Well… i do take fish oil supplements… i think of that as a healing supplement….

    Have a great day 🙂

  • Brooke October 28, 2009, 8:46 am

    Gojis in the chocolate covered form only make my liiiiffeee! AND I GOT MY PRIZE from the Operation Beautiful book contest!!! LOVE IT and LOVE the Food Inc book + blue tote! It shall come in handy today when I walk my behind down to the grocery store today to get my FREE Okios with my coupons! SHOOOO, SO EXCITED!

    p.s. I met someone who’s sister goes to Pittsburgh and I go, “Oh!! My…. family friend went there!” ahahahhahaha love ya family BFF!!!

  • megan October 28, 2009, 8:47 am

    i really like that you go from yoga to push-ups and sit-ups 🙂

    we drink mona vie in our house for the antioxidant benefits. (acai berry). not sure I could handle the raw garlic, but I might try that ginger tea idea!

  • Sara October 28, 2009, 8:48 am

    I really need to start finding time each day to do meditation and yoga! I get some caught up in my hectic schedule that I often forget some of the important things that really help me have a positive outlook throughout the day!

  • christie @ honoring health October 28, 2009, 8:48 am

    Tree pose is surely becoming one of my favorites. I still struggle sometimes getting my right leg into my left thigh but I can pretty much rock the left leg into the right thigh. The key is have a dristi (gazing point) to help your mind settle and focus. Balancing poses are more about what is happening in your mind rather than in your body.

    I also prefer to do yoga to more upbeat music like the grateful dead or even some funky jazz. Once I am certified to teach (in about a year) I will fo sho be filling by classes with awesome music.

  • Eating Journey October 28, 2009, 8:50 am

    Food totally heals. Have you heard of CrazySexyCancer–that is enough for me to believe that food/diet heals. Gogi berries are awesome. Which reminds me I need to get some more. Good on your for getting enough sleep. I think that sleep is at the foundation for me not eating/living healthy.

  • Christy October 28, 2009, 8:50 am

    Yes! Food does have incredible healing powers! Plus it PREVENTS so many diseases! How cool is it to have the ability to eat well and decrease your risk for cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes…. the list goes on and on!! 😀

  • Stephanie October 28, 2009, 8:52 am

    I am really getting more and more into eating foods for their healing properties, and learning about them as well. I need to try goji berries, they are on the list 🙂

  • girlrunningaround October 28, 2009, 8:54 am

    haha, the pic made me laugh. My dog is the same way. Whenever I’m on the floor I have to put him outside or the Hubs has to make an active effort to keep him busy, otherwise he’s licking my and trying to play. So cute. And yes, Maggie is a beautiful girl. It’s so awesome that you rescued her!

  • Rosey Rebecca October 28, 2009, 8:55 am

    I love that your dog is on your lap trying to see if you have something it eat in your hand! My dog used to be the same exact way. If you walked through the kitchen she’d coming running through the house look for food! Glad you got up early to meditate.

  • Shannon (The Daily Balance) October 28, 2009, 8:59 am

    such a cute pic with your doggy! Your oatmeal photos are GORGEOUS!

  • Matt October 28, 2009, 9:00 am

    Goji berries are awesome. Kind of expensive though!

  • Amanda October 28, 2009, 9:01 am

    Haha your hippie station is a fun thing to have! Yesterday I did part of a Dave Farmar podcast, but then got restless and did some of my own flow. I put on Coldplay and it was SO fun to do some yoga to!

  • ciely October 28, 2009, 9:04 am

    That music is New Age Not Hippie!
    Hippies couldn’t stand that stuff.
    You want real hippi?
    The Doors song
    When the music’s over.

  • Madeline @ GreensAndJeans October 28, 2009, 9:04 am

    I grew up belonging to a food co-op and seeing a naturopath (thanks hippy parents!) so I’m a huge believer in the healing properties of food!

  • maria October 28, 2009, 9:07 am

    I don’t really base my opinions of food on its healing properties, but I do just so happen to like a lot of foods that are rich in antioxidants and full of nutrients that boost the immune system. Gotta love coincidences like that!

  • Mellissa October 28, 2009, 9:11 am

    My dog loves to help me do yoga! I do think food can really heal, I know how much better I feel when I am eating fruits and veggies!

  • Jenny October 28, 2009, 9:12 am

    Gogi berries are awesome! I have also bought yogurt covered gogi berries before to satisfy a sweet tooth craving without geeling guilty 🙂
    They are pretty expensive but some things are worth the splurge!

  • Pam October 28, 2009, 9:12 am

    Good lookin brekkie!

  • Joelle (The Pancake Girl) October 28, 2009, 9:13 am

    That’s interesting about the Goji berries..I am curious to try them!

  • RhodeyGirl October 28, 2009, 9:17 am

    I’m into eating foods for their health benefits. I can learn to like and even love lots of foods that are good for me… For example I used to hate oatmeal but made myself eat it 9 or 10 times and finally became obsessed. Same with plain blueberries actually.

  • RhodeyGirl October 28, 2009, 9:18 am

    P.S. My grandfather ate a raw garlic clove and shot of extra virgin olive oil every day his whole life, and he lived to 106 or 107.

  • Lu October 28, 2009, 9:25 am

    I love good morning sun salutations! Cute doggie! It’s just not the same to do yoga/meditation without fur support. My cat just loves it!

  • Sara October 28, 2009, 9:27 am

    Hey caitlin! hope you have a great day!
    thanks for making me feel better about my injury yesterday, you REALLY helped!!! I am ready to be patient about my healing and come back to my training in full force! I WILL cross that finish line on january 10th! hope to finally meet you there 😉

  • Jenna October 28, 2009, 9:29 am

    yummy oats!
    i love eating foods that have healing properties 🙂
    jenna

  • Lizzy October 28, 2009, 9:35 am

    spoonfuls of garlic! that sounds like something i would do! glad that your challenge is going great so far!

  • ubigb October 28, 2009, 9:38 am

    haha- caitlin you are too funny. are you sure those few hits the other day were from a cigarrette or from something else??

  • healthy ashley October 28, 2009, 9:41 am

    Yummy oats 🙂

    I need to remember to do more yoga and quiet time in the mornings!

  • Rose October 28, 2009, 9:53 am

    Beautiful start to the morning!

  • 4shley (FitBits) October 28, 2009, 10:13 am

    Goji berries are so tasty! I got a granola with Goji berries at Whole Foods recently and was so happy with it!

  • MJ @ Dubaidossier October 28, 2009, 10:15 am

    Morning Yoga is the best. I did a yoga podcast this morning and I actually noticed I had a lot more energy throughout the day1

  • Courtney October 28, 2009, 10:20 am

    I do think of some food as specifically having healthful properties. I just made a big batch of what I call my Super Immunity Soup (spinach, lots of onions, garlic and peas) with it being flu season and all. I feel healthier after eating all the green goodness!
    Courtney
    Adventures in Tri-ing

  • Abby (Abbys Vegan Eats) October 28, 2009, 10:21 am

    Cute bowl.. so festive!

  • brandi October 28, 2009, 10:26 am

    I don’t eat things JUST for their healing properties, but I love eating things that I know are good for me.

  • Evan Thomas October 28, 2009, 10:39 am

    gojigourmet.com makes the best goji infused cookies ever

  • Anne Marie@ New Weigh of Life October 28, 2009, 10:59 am

    I think eating food for its healing properties is a good idea, but I don’t do that as often as I should 🙂

  • Andee (LAEasyMeals) October 28, 2009, 11:01 am

    I love gogi berries except they are so expensive at Whole Foods. My family believes in a lot of Chinese medicine like making birds nest soup, which is a Chinese delicacy that is rich in nutrients and helps aid in recovery when someone just got out of surgery. It is also made out of the saliva from a swiftlet, a tiny bird in southeast Asia!

  • Danny (Beer in Shape) October 28, 2009, 11:32 am

    That is one of the most appetizing oatmeals I have ever seen!!! what are Goji berries? never heard of them…

  • Morgan @ Life After Bagels October 28, 2009, 11:35 am

    I absolutely agree that food has healing properties. I’m not crazy strict or anything obviously but I’m always interested in finding new foods that are anti inflammatory since I have so many joint problems.

  • Julie @ Peanut Butter Fingers October 28, 2009, 11:38 am

    ooooh i haveta try goji berries! i still haven’t & they look so pretty (& tasty).

  • Sarah @ The Foodie Diaries October 28, 2009, 11:45 am

    I never tried gojis, but I’ve always wanted to! I’m with you on the logic that if antioxidants pack even a little bit of the punch they’re expected too–they’re worth it!

  • kilax October 28, 2009, 11:47 am

    I don’t think of foods in terms of healing properties. I just try to eat a varied diet. I don’t believe eating a lot of one food can affect you too much… maybe I am too cynical 😉

  • Sarah @ See Sarah Eat October 28, 2009, 11:58 am

    I try to be aware of the healing properties of some foods and I definitely believe eating certain ones can prevent certain things. Food is awesome like that 🙂

  • Julie October 28, 2009, 12:16 pm

    I couldn’t listen to that whole song or else I’d fall asleep here at my desk. It’s so relaxing. I don’t think of food in tearms of it’s healing properties, I just try to eat what makes me feel good. I love that your husband practices what he preaches, a lot of md’s do not.

  • angieinatlanta October 28, 2009, 12:17 pm

    I can’t remember the last time I got 8 hours of sleep. You have inspired me to remedy that as soon as possible!

  • Hallie October 28, 2009, 12:34 pm

    I totally believe in the healing power of foods. Awhile back I read the book Superfoods Rx and it totally changed the way I thought about what it meant for a food to be “healthy.” Before I was all about calorie and fat/fiber grams and that was it (a stint at Weight Watchers’ll do that to a girl!). Since then I’ve incorporated many of the “superfoods” into my diet that I never would have before, and I actually love most of them: cinnamon, flax, AVOCADO, beans, etc.

  • Juicy Jessy October 28, 2009, 1:18 pm

    I would love to make a habit out of doing some yoga in the morning!
    I like to think about the nutritional benefits of food a lot, and I try to eat mostly food that is good for me. However, I could be eating a lot more “wonderfood”. In fact I have a whole book about wonderfood! Maybe I’ll post about wonderfood on a weekly basis on my blog from now on!

  • Maya October 28, 2009, 1:22 pm

    Yes! I am definitely trying to think of food in terms of its healing properties. I’m trying to get “back on track” not because of weight gain or control, but because my body deserves the best nutrition I can give it. I’m looking at healthy living in a new way! Reading about what the foods that are good for me (and that I also enjoy) do for my body is so cool!

  • Cynthia (It All Changes) October 28, 2009, 1:24 pm

    I love that Maggie joins you for yoga. Peanut always licks my face and hands when I’m in downward dog.

    I love tree pose. I used to stand around like that at my teaching job and my students would laugh at me. It was comfortable though.

  • Mama Pea October 28, 2009, 1:24 pm

    Glad you got that feed info up. I can’t be the only one who was missing you!

    I love that T-shirt and need to get one!

    I think that a lot of the healing properties of foods are a placebo effect, but I really don’t think it matters. If you feel like something is working for you, that’s almost as important as if it actually is.

  • Jessie (Vegan-minded) October 28, 2009, 3:11 pm

    You are right, tree pose is SO hard. I would like to be able to do it for more than 2 seconds some day!

    My pets always get in the way when I workout at home too. My cat just loves scratching my yoga mat, and my dog stands on it and looks up at me when I am trying to do my poses. 🙂

  • Kate October 28, 2009, 8:52 pm

    My puppy loves to “help” me stretch after a run. And he goes CRAZY when I do ab work!

    With some recent health concerns, I’ve become very interested in the healing properties of foods. I’ve got all kinds of superfoods in my daily diet now: goji berries, chia seeds, blueberries, acai, wheat grass, dandelion, sprouts, etc.. If nothing else, making those food choices helps me feel empowered over my health. And that’s worth a million bucks, really.

  • Susan October 28, 2009, 9:28 pm

    Is it sad I noticed that new spoon before you even mentioned it? 😛

  • Whole Body Love October 29, 2009, 12:35 am

    Although I have been interested in nutrition for many years, the blog world has prompted me to think much more in terms of healing properties!

  • Carolyn October 29, 2009, 9:40 am

    Ha ha!! That’s what happens when I try to exercise at home. P.S. I am giving away two breast cancer awareness prize packs on my blog: http://lovinlosing.com/.

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